Jochen Fahrenberg
Encyclopedia
Jochen Fahrenberg is a German psychologist
in the fields of personality
and psychophysiology
in Freiburg, London and Hamburg and received his doctoral degree from Prof. Dr. Robert Heiß on the subject of graphometry. After a position as a research assistant in Bad Oeynhausen
he completed his postdoctoral thesis (“habilitation”) in 1966 about “Psychophysiological Research in Personality”. He retired as professor emeritus in 2002 from his dual function as head of the section Differential Psychology and Personality Research
and co-director (with Prof. Dr. Michael Myrtek) of the Research Group Psychophysiology in the Department of Psychology at Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg
, Germany
.
and Characterology
(1944–1966) in Freiburg
, to the chair where he shaped the structure and goals of the department for over 30 years. Through his empirical “falsification
strategy”, in-depth philosophical discourse, and an early professional und practical orientation in the field of Psychology, he drew together central, often conflicting themes in the department’s past.
The Research Group Psychophysiology was founded 1970 by Jochen Fahrenberg and Michael Myrtek and given generous facilities first in Schillhof, later in Belfortstraße (in Freiburg). During its 35-year history it was the centre and the driving force behind multivariate activation
research, psychophysiological research of personality, research in cardiovascular rehabilitation
, disease behaviour, and life satisfaction. The research group also developed and promoted both methodology and techniques of ambulatory monitoring to assist behaviour research in everyday situations.
Fahrenberg conducted numerous extensive laboratory and field work focussing in particular on cardiovascular psychophysiology. His interdisciplinary efforts covered developments in methodology
, theory testing – from the biology of personality to psychosomatics – and new perspectives in applied psychology
. His work held a constant standing among the top in international research.
Fahrenberg’s psychodiagnostic
work culminated in the development of various personality questionnaires, one of which, the (FPI
; Freiburg Personality Inventory; comparable to the MMPI
), is the most frequently used in the German-speaking countries. The eighth edition appeared 2009.
Jochen Fahrenberg remained independent and persistent in his search for invariance
and consistency
of mind-body
processes and is an inspiring and influential model for many students and colleagues.
The following is a selection of his most important writings:
Since his status as professor emeritus, Fahrenberg has maintained his high level of productivity with no less than 30 publications thus far (as of summer 2007). Among them are four books: Psychologische Interpretation (2002), Alltagsnahe Psychologie (2002), Annahmen über den Menschen (2004) und Psychophysiologie in Labor, Klinik und Alltag (2005).
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
in the fields of personality
Personality psychology
Personality psychology is a branch of psychology that studies personality and individual differences. Its areas of focus include:* Constructing a coherent picture of the individual and his or her major psychological processes...
and psychophysiology
Psychophysiology
Psychophysiology is the branch of psychology that is concerned with the physiological bases of psychological processes. While psychophysiology was a general broad field of research in the 1960s and 1970s, it has now become quite specialized, and has branched into subspecializations...
Education and career
Prof. Dr. Jochen Fahrenberg studied PsychologyPsychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
in Freiburg, London and Hamburg and received his doctoral degree from Prof. Dr. Robert Heiß on the subject of graphometry. After a position as a research assistant in Bad Oeynhausen
Bad Oeynhausen
Bad Oeynhausen is a spa town in the Minden-Lübbecke district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.- Geography :Bad Oeynhausen is located on the banks of the Weser river, which runs along the eastern edges of the town. Bad Oeynhausen has the world's highest carbonated, thermal saltwater fountain,...
he completed his postdoctoral thesis (“habilitation”) in 1966 about “Psychophysiological Research in Personality”. He retired as professor emeritus in 2002 from his dual function as head of the section Differential Psychology and Personality Research
Personality psychology
Personality psychology is a branch of psychology that studies personality and individual differences. Its areas of focus include:* Constructing a coherent picture of the individual and his or her major psychological processes...
and co-director (with Prof. Dr. Michael Myrtek) of the Research Group Psychophysiology in the Department of Psychology at Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg
Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In the extreme south-west of the country, it straddles the Dreisam river, at the foot of the Schlossberg. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Breisgau region on the western edge of the Black Forest in the Upper Rhine Plain...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Work
Jochen Fahrenberg succeeded Robert Heiß, the founder of the Institute for PsychologyPsychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
and Characterology
Characterology
Characterology is a method of character reading that attempted to combine revised physiognomy, reconstructed phrenology and amplified pathognomy, with ethnology, sociology and anthropology. Developed by L...
(1944–1966) in Freiburg
Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In the extreme south-west of the country, it straddles the Dreisam river, at the foot of the Schlossberg. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Breisgau region on the western edge of the Black Forest in the Upper Rhine Plain...
, to the chair where he shaped the structure and goals of the department for over 30 years. Through his empirical “falsification
Falsification
Falsification may refer to:* The act of disproving a proposition, hypothesis, or theory: see Falsifiability* Mathematical proof* Falsified evidence...
strategy”, in-depth philosophical discourse, and an early professional und practical orientation in the field of Psychology, he drew together central, often conflicting themes in the department’s past.
The Research Group Psychophysiology was founded 1970 by Jochen Fahrenberg and Michael Myrtek and given generous facilities first in Schillhof, later in Belfortstraße (in Freiburg). During its 35-year history it was the centre and the driving force behind multivariate activation
Activation
Activation in chemical sciences generally refers to the process whereby something is prepared or excited for a subsequent reaction.- Chemistry :...
research, psychophysiological research of personality, research in cardiovascular rehabilitation
Physical medicine and rehabilitation
Physical medicine and rehabilitation , physiatry or rehabilitation medicine, is a branch of medicine that aims to enhance and restore functional ability and quality of life to those with physical impairments or disabilities. A physician having completed training in this field is referred to as a...
, disease behaviour, and life satisfaction. The research group also developed and promoted both methodology and techniques of ambulatory monitoring to assist behaviour research in everyday situations.
Fahrenberg conducted numerous extensive laboratory and field work focussing in particular on cardiovascular psychophysiology. His interdisciplinary efforts covered developments in methodology
Methodology
Methodology is generally a guideline for solving a problem, with specificcomponents such as phases, tasks, methods, techniques and tools . It can be defined also as follows:...
, theory testing – from the biology of personality to psychosomatics – and new perspectives in applied psychology
Applied psychology
The basic premise of applied psychology is the use of psychological principles and theories to overcome problems in other areas, such as mental health, business management, education, health, product design, ergonomics, and law...
. His work held a constant standing among the top in international research.
Fahrenberg’s psychodiagnostic
Psychological testing
Psychological testing is a field characterized by the use of samples of behavior in order to assess psychological construct, such as cognitive and emotional functioning, about a given individual. The technical term for the science behind psychological testing is psychometrics...
work culminated in the development of various personality questionnaires, one of which, the (FPI
Freiburger Persönlichkeitsinventar
The Freiburger Persönlichkeitsinventar is a psychological personality test to assess personality. The test is comparable in some aspects to MMPI and more generally to EPI or 16PF and is mainly used in German speaking countries...
; Freiburg Personality Inventory; comparable to the MMPI
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory is one of the most frequently used personality tests in mental health. The test is used by trained professionals to assist in identifying personality structure and psychopathology....
), is the most frequently used in the German-speaking countries. The eighth edition appeared 2009.
Jochen Fahrenberg remained independent and persistent in his search for invariance
Invariance
Invariance is a French magazine edited by Jacques Camatte, published since 1968.It emerged from the Italian left-communist tradition associated with Amadeo Bordiga and it originally bore the subtitle "Invariance of the theory of the proletariat", indicating Bordiga's notion of the unchanging nature...
and consistency
Consistency
Consistency can refer to:* Consistency , the psychological need to be consistent with prior acts and statements* "Consistency", an 1887 speech by Mark Twain...
of mind-body
Mind-body
Mind-body may refer to:* Mind-body connection, a medical model* Mind-body dichotomy, a philosophy of mind* Mind-body exercise, a form of exercise that combines body movement with mental focus* Mind-body intervention, an alternative medicine...
processes and is an inspiring and influential model for many students and colleagues.
Publications
Jochen Fahrenberg has so far written around 200 articles, book chapters and books - see also the publications in the catalogue of the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek (German National Library). In 1972 he initiated the "Arbeitstagung für psychophysiologische Methodik (APM)” (Workshop for Psychophysiological Methods), from which has emerged the German Society for Psychophysiology and its Applications in 1982.The following is a selection of his most important writings:
- Fahrenberg, J. (1967). Psychophysiologische Persönlichkeitsforschung. Göttingen: Hogrefe.
- Fahrenberg, J. (1986). Psychophysiological individuality: A pattern analytic approach to personality research and psychosomatic medicine. Advances in Behaviour Research and Therapy, 8, 43-100.
- Fahrenberg, J. (1992). Komplementarität in der psychophysiologischen Forschung. Grundsätze und Forschungspraxis. In E.P. Fischer, H.S. Herzka & K.H. Reich (Hrsg.), Widersprüchliche Wirklichkeit. Neues Denken in Wissenschaft und Alltag. Komplementarität und Dialogik (pp. 43–77). München: Piper.
- Fahrenberg, J. &. Myrtek, M. (Eds.) (1996). Ambulatory assessment. Computer-assisted psychological and psychophysiological methods in monitoring and field studies. Seattle, WA: Hogrefe & Huber.
- Fahrenberg, J. Hampel, R. & Selg, H. (2001). Das Freiburger Persönlichkeitsinvenar FPI-R mit neuer Normierung. Handanweisung (7. Auflage). Göttingen: Hogrefe.
- Fahrenberg, J. & Myrtek, M. (2005). Psychophysiologie in Labor, Klinik und Alltag. 40 Jahre Projektarbeit der Freiburger Forschungsgruppe Psychophysiologie - Kommentare und Neue Perspektiven. Frankfurt a.M.: Lang.
- Fahrenberg, Jochen (2007) Menschenbilder. Psychologische, biologische, interkulturelle und religiöse Ansichten. Psychologische und Interdisziplinäre Anthropologie. Online in the internet at www.jochen-fahrenberg.de.
Since his status as professor emeritus, Fahrenberg has maintained his high level of productivity with no less than 30 publications thus far (as of summer 2007). Among them are four books: Psychologische Interpretation (2002), Alltagsnahe Psychologie (2002), Annahmen über den Menschen (2004) und Psychophysiologie in Labor, Klinik und Alltag (2005).
External links
- Psychological Institute of Albert-Ludwigs-UniversityFreiburg, Germany
- Publications of Jochen Fahrenberg in the catalogue of the Geman National Library
- Website of Jochen Fahrenberg